Konta cruises into second week with Sakkari victory

LONDON, Great Britain - British No.1 Johanna Konta will be flying the flag in the second week of the women's draw at Wimbledob aftter a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Greece's Maria Sakkari in the third round.

Konta rebounded from a marathon second-round victory over Donna Vekic, which lasted over three hours, with a routine victory on No.1 Court, in which she never lost serve in an hour and 16 minutes.

No.6 seed Johanna Konta broke new ground at Wimbledon on Friday, as she reached the fourth round for the first time.

"I think as a performance, as a competitor, I think I competed really well. It wasn't easy. It was a little bit windy out there, so I think it made it difficult for both of us to play necessarily our best level," Konta said. "I think it was a competitive match. I was really happy with how I put all sorts of difficulties aside and just really looked to compete really hard.

"It was very different than my previous rounds. There was definitely an adjustment period to her ball. She was swinging quite freely. She had great depth on her ball and was definitely challenging me with that. I felt quite clear of what I wanted to try and do out there. I wasn't able to necessarily do it the whole time, but I felt I really knuckled down and tried to stay tough when I needed to."

It was a clean afternoon for Konta, as she struck 17 winners and won 83 percent of the points played behind her first serve, while converting four of seven break point opportunities.

Prior to reaching the third round last year, the home favorite was ousted in the first round in four other trips to the All-England Club, but breaks new ground in her sixth trip.

"I'm just here, happy to have actually made it into the second week, happy to come through three battles this week," Konta said. "Again, very much taking it one match at a time. But definitely working towards staying involved for a full two weeks. "I have said that everyone in the draw is in with a chance of taking the title. I think I'm pretty sure favorites also come and go. They change daily almost."

Konta never trailed for the duration of the third round victory, as a break in the first game of the match sealed her early advantage, which held up for the set of the set.

In the second set, the Brit ran off the first four games before Sakkari got on the board, and broke the Greek woman's serve for the final time to wrap up the match.

For a spot in the quarterfinals, Konta will face No.21 seed Caroline Garcia, after the Frenchwoman defeated Madison Brengle - the conquerer of two-time champion Petra Kvitova - in Friday's opening match on Court 18.

"She's a very good player. She's someone who is playing with a lot of confidence right now," said Konta on the No.21 seed. "I think she made the last eight in Paris, as well. She's definitely playing with confidence in the slams. I think it's going to be a very tough match. We played in Indian Wells. I lost to her I think 7-6 in the third there, so it was a very close match.